Novel human proteases and polynucleotides encoding the same

ABSTRACT

Novel human polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences are disclosed that can be used in therapeutic, diagnostic, and pharmacogenomic applications.

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/225,852 which was filed on Aug. 16, 2000 and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

1. INTRODUCTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the discovery, identification, and characterization of novel human polynucleotides encoding proteins sharing sequence similarity with mammalian proteases. The invention encompasses the described polynucleotides, host cell expression systems, the encoded proteins, fusion proteins, polypeptides and peptides, antibodies to the encoded proteins and peptides, and genetically engineered animals that either lack or over express the disclosed sequences, antagonists and agonists of the proteins, and other compounds that modulate the expression or activity of the proteins encoded by the disclosed polynucleotides that can be used for diagnosis, drug screening, clinical trial monitoring, or the treatment of physiological disorders or diseases.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Proteases cleave protein substrates as part of degradation, maturation, and secretory pathways within the body. Proteases have been associated with, inter alia, regulating development, diabetes, obesity, infertility, modulating cellular processes, and infectious disease.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to the discovery, identification, and characterization of nucleotides that encode novel human proteins, and the corresponding amino acid sequences of these proteins. The novel human proteins (NHPs) described for the first time herein share structural similarity with animal proteases and particularly zinc metalloproteases.

[0005] The novel human nucleic acid (cDNA) sequences described herein, encode proteins/open reading frames (ORFs) of 491 and 1224 amino acids in length (see SEQ ID NOS: 2 and 4 respectively).

[0006] The invention also encompasses agonists and antagonists of the described NHPs, including small molecules, large molecules, mutant NHPs, or portions thereof that compete with native NHPs, NHP peptides, and antibodies, as well as nucleotide sequences that can be used to inhibit the expression of the described NHPs (e.g., antisense and ribozyme molecules, and gene or regulatory sequence replacement constructs) or to enhance the expression of the described NHPs (e.g., expression constructs that place the described gene under the control of a strong promoter system), and transgenic animals that express a NHP transgene, or “knock-outs” (which can be conditional) that do not express a functional NHP.

[0007] Further, the present invention also relates to processes for identifying compounds that modulate, i.e., act as agonists or antagonists, of NHP expression and/or NHP activity that utilize purified preparations of the described NHPs and/or NHP products, or cells expressing the same. Such compounds can be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of any of a wide variety of symptoms associated with biological disorders or imbalances.

4. DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTING AND FIGURES

[0008] The Sequence Listing provides the sequences of several NHP ORFs encoding the described NHP amino acid sequences. SEQ ID NO: 5 describes a NHP ORF and flanking sequences.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The NHPs described for the first time herein are novel proteins that are expressed in, inter alia, human cell lines, and human fetal brain, brain, pituitary, cerebellum, spinal cord, thymus, lymph node, trachea, kidney, fetal liver, prostate, testis, thyroid, adrenal gland, pancreas, small intestine, colon, skeletal muscle, heart, uterus, mammary gland, adipose, esophagus, bladder, cervix, pericardium, ovary, fetal kidney, and fetal lung cells.

[0010] The described sequences were compiled from cDNA clones, genomic sequence, and cDNAs derived from human kidney, mammary gland, and cerebellum mRNAs (Edge Biosystems, Gaithersburg, Md., and Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). The present invention encompasses the nucleotides presented in the Sequence Listing, host cells expressing such nucleotides, the expression products of such nucleotides, and: (a) nucleotides that encode mammalian homologs of the described genes, including the specifically described NHPs, and NHP products; (b) nucleotides that encode one or more portions of a NHP that correspond to functional domains, and the polypeptide products specified by such nucleotide sequences, including but not limited to the novel regions of any active domain(s); (c) isolated nucleotides that encode mutant versions, engineered or naturally occurring, of the described NHPs in which all or a part of at least one domain is deleted or altered, and the polypeptide products specified by such nucleotide sequences, including but not limited to soluble proteins and peptides in which all or a portion of the signal sequence is deleted; (d) nucleotides that encode chimeric fusion proteins containing all or a portion of a coding region of a NHP, or one of its domains (e.g., a receptor or ligand binding domain, accessory protein/self-association domain, etc.) fused to another peptide or polypeptide; or (e) therapeutic or diagnostic derivatives of the described polynucleotides such as oligonucleotides, antisense polynucleotides, ribozymes, dsRNA, or gene therapy constructs comprising a sequence first disclosed in the Sequence Listing.

[0011] As discussed above, the present invention includes: (a) the human DNA sequences presented in the Sequence Listing (and vectors comprising the same) and additionally contemplates any nucleotide sequence encoding a contiguous NHP open reading frame (ORF), or a contiguous exon splice junction first described in the Sequence Listing, that hybridizes to a complement of a DNA sequence presented in the Sequence Listing under highly stringent conditions, e.g., hybridization to filter-bound DNA in 0.5 M NaHPO₄, 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1 mM EDTA at 65° C., and washing in 0.1× SSC/0.1% SDS at 68° C. (Ausubel F. M. et al., eds., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. I, Green Publishing Associates, Inc., and John Wiley & sons, Inc., New York, at p. 2.10.3) and encodes a functionally equivalent gene product. Additionally contemplated are any nucleotide sequences that hybridize to the complement of the DNA sequence that encode and express an amino acid sequence presented in the Sequence Listing under moderately stringent conditions, e.g., washing in 0.2× SSC/0.1% SDS at 42° C. (Ausubel et al., 1989, supra), yet still encode a functionally equivalent NHP product. Functional equivalents of a NHP include naturally occurring NHPs present in other species and mutant NHPs whether naturally occurring or engineered (by site directed mutagenesis, gene shuffling, directed evolution as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,458). The invention also includes degenerate nucleic acid variants of the disclosed NHP polynucleotide sequences.

[0012] Additionally contemplated are polynucleotides encoding a NHP ORF, or its functional equivalent, encoded by a polynucleotide sequence that is about 99, 95, 90, or about 85 percent similar or identical to corresponding regions of the nucleotide sequences of the Sequence Listing (as measured by BLAST sequence comparison analysis using, for example, the GCG sequence analysis package using standard default settings).

[0013] The invention also includes nucleic acid molecules, preferably DNA molecules, that hybridize to, and are therefore the complements of, the described NHP gene nucleotide sequences. Such hybridization conditions may be highly stringent or less highly stringent, as described above. In instances where the nucleic acid molecules are deoxyoligonucleotides (“DNA oligos”), such molecules are generally about 16 to about 100 bases long, or about 20 to about 80, or about 34 to about 45 bases long, or any variation or combination of sizes represented therein that incorporate a contiguous region of sequence first disclosed in the Sequence Listing. Such oligonucleotides can be used in conjunction with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to screen libraries, isolate clones, and prepare cloning and sequencing templates, etc..

[0014] Alternatively, such NHP oligonucleotides can be used as hybridization probes for screening libraries, and assessing gene expression patterns (particularly using a micro array or high-throughput “chip” format). Additionally, a series of the described NHP oligonucleotide sequences, or the complements thereof, can be used to represent all or a portion of the described NHP sequences. The oligonucleotides, typically between about 16 to about 40 (or any whole number within the stated range) nucleotides in length may partially overlap each other and/or a NHP sequence may be represented using oligonucleotides that do not overlap. Accordingly, the described NHP polynucleotide sequences shall typically comprise at least about two or three distinct oligonucleotide sequences of at least about 18, and preferably about 25, nucleotides in length that are each first disclosed in the described Sequence Listing. Such oligonucleotide sequences may begin at any nucleotide present within a sequence in the Sequence Listing and proceed in either a sense (5′-to-3′) orientation vis-a-vis the described sequence or in an antisense orientation.

[0015] For oligonucleotide probes, highly stringent conditions may refer, e.g., to washing in 6× SSC/0.05% sodium pyrophosphate at 37° C. (for 14-base oligos), 48° C. (for 17-base oligos), 55° C. (for 20-base oligos), and 60° C. (for 23-base oligos). These nucleic acid molecules may encode or act as NHP gene antisense molecules, useful, for example, in NHP gene regulation (for and/or as antisense primers in amplification reactions of NHP gene nucleic acid sequences). With respect to NHP gene regulation, such techniques can be used to regulate biological functions. Further, such sequences may be used as part of ribozyme and/or triple helix sequences that are also useful for NHP gene regulation.

[0016] Inhibitory antisense or double stranded oligonucleotides can additionally comprise at least one modified base moiety which is selected from the group including but not limited to 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xantine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w, and 2,6-diaminopurine.

[0017] The antisense oligonucleotide can also comprise at least one modified sugar moiety selected from the group including but not limited to arabinose, 2-fluoroarabinose, xylulose, and hexose.

[0018] In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide will comprise at least one modified phosphate backbone selected from the group consisting of a phosphorothioate, a phosphorodithioate, a phosphoramidothioate, a phosphoramidate, a phosphordiamidate, a methylphosphonate, an alkyl phosphotriester, and a formacetal or analog thereof. In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is an α-anomeric oligonucleotide. An α-anomeric oligonucleotide forms specific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to the usual β-units, the strands run parallel to each other (Gautier et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Res. 15:6625-6641). The oligonucleotide is a 2′-0-methylribonucleotide (Inoue et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Res. 15:6131-6148), or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al., 1987, FEBS Lett. 215:327-330). Alternatively, double stranded RNA can be used to disrupt the expression and function of a targeted NHP.

[0019] Oligonucleotides of the invention can be synthesized by standard methods known in the art, e.g. by use of an automated DNA synthesizer (such as are commercially available from Biosearch, Applied Biosystems, etc.). As examples, phosphorothioate oligonucleotides can be synthesized by the method of Stein et al. (1988, Nucl. Acids Res. 16:3209), and methylphosphonate oligonucleotides can be prepared by use of controlled pore glass polymer supports (Sarin et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85:7448-7451), etc.

[0020] Low stringency conditions are well known to those of skill in the art, and will vary predictably depending on the specific organisms from which the library and the labeled sequences are derived. For guidance regarding such conditions see, for example, Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (and periodic updates thereof), Cold Springs Harbor Press, N.Y.; and Ausubel et al., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y.

[0021] Alternatively, suitably labeled NHP nucleotide probes can be used to screen a human genomic library using appropriately stringent conditions or by PCR. The identification and characterization of human genomic clones is helpful for identifying polymorphisms (including, but not limited to, nucleotide repeats, microsatellite alleles, single nucleotide polymorphisms, or coding single nucleotide polymorphisms), determining the genomic structure of a given locus/allele, and designing diagnostic tests. For example, sequences derived from regions adjacent to the intron/exon boundaries of the human gene can be used to design primers for use in amplification assays to detect mutations within the exons, introns, splice sites ( e.g., splice acceptor and/or donor sites), etc., that can be used in diagnostics and pharmacogenomics.

[0022] Further, a NHP homolog can be isolated from nucleic acid from an organism of interest by performing PCR using two degenerate or “wobble” oligonucleotide primer pools designed on the basis of amino acid sequences within the NHP products disclosed herein. The template for the reaction may be total RNA, mRNA, and/or cDNA obtained by reverse transcription of mRNA prepared from human or non-human cell lines or tissue known or suspected to express an allele of a NHP gene. The PCR product can be subcloned and sequenced to ensure that the amplified sequences represent the sequence of the desired NHP gene. The PCR fragment can then be used to isolate a full length cDNA clone by a variety of methods. For example, the amplified fragment can be labeled and used to screen a cDNA library, such as a bacteriophage cDNA library. Alternatively, the labeled fragment can be used to isolate genomic clones via the screening of a genomic library.

[0023] PCR technology can also be used to isolate full length cDNA sequences. For example, RNA can be isolated, following standard procedures, from an appropriate cellular or tissue source (i.e., one known, or suspected, to express a NHP gene, such as, for example, testis tissue). A reverse transcription (RT) reaction can be performed on the RNA using an oligonucleotide primer specific for the most 5′ end of the amplified fragment for the priming of first strand synthesis. The resulting RNA/DNA hybrid may then be “tailed” using a standard terminal transferase reaction, the hybrid may be digested with RNase H, and second strand synthesis may then be primed with a complementary primer. Thus, cDNA sequences upstream of the amplified fragment can be isolated. For a review of cloning strategies that can be used, see e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra.

[0024] A cDNA encoding a mutant NHP gene can be isolated,, for example, by using PCR. In this case, the first cDNA strand may be synthesized by hybridizing an oligo-dT oligonucleotide to mRNA isolated from tissue known or suspected to be expressed in an individual putatively carrying a mutant NHP allele, and by extending the new strand with reverse transcriptase. The second strand of the cDNA is then synthesized using an oligpnucleotide that hybridizes specifically to the 5′ end of the normal gene. Using these two primers, the product is then amplified via PCR, optionally cloned into a suitable vector, and subjected to DNA sequence analysis through methods well known to those of skill in the art. By comparing the DNA sequence of the mutant NHP allele to that of a corresponding normal NHP allele, the mutation(s) responsible for the loss or alteration of function of the mutant NHP gene product can be ascertained.

[0025] Alternatively, a genomic library can be constructed using DNA obtained from an individual suspected of or known to carry a mutant NHP allele (e.g., a person manifesting a NHP-associated phenotype such as, for example, obesity, high blood pressure, connective tissue disorders, infertility, etc.), or a cDNA library can be constructed using RNA from a tissue known, or suspected, to express a mutant NHP allele. A normal NHP gene, or any suitable fragment thereof, can then be labeled and used as a probe to identify the corresponding mutant NHP allele in such libraries. Clones containing mutant NHP gene sequences can then be purified and subjected to sequence analysis according to methods well known to those skilled in the art.

[0026] Additionally, an expression library can be constructed utilizing cDNA synthesized from, for example, RNA isolated from a tissue known, or suspected, to express a mutant NHP allele in an individual suspected of or known to carry such a mutant allele. In this manner, gene products made by the putatively mutant tissue can be expressed and screened using standard antibody screening techniques in conjunction with antibodies raised against normal NHP product, as described below. (For screening techniques, see, for example, Harlow, E. and Lane, eds., 1988, “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor.) Additionally, screening can be accomplished by screening with labeled NHP fusion proteins, such as, for example, AP-NHP or NHP-AP fusion proteins. In cases where a NHP mutation results in an expressed gene product with altered function (e.g., as a result of a missense or a frameshift mutation), polyclonal antibodies to NHP are likely to cross-react with a corresponding mutant NHP gene product. Library clones detected via their reaction with such labeled antibodies can be purified and subjected to sequence analysis according to methods well known in the art.

[0027] The invention also encompasses (a) DNA vectors that contain any of the foregoing NHP coding sequences and/or their complements (i.e., antisense); (b) DNA expression vectors that contain any of the foregoing NHP coding sequences operatively associated with a regulatory element that directs the expression of the coding sequences (for example, baculo virus as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,336 herein incorporated by reference); (c) genetically engineered host cells that contain any of the foregoing NHP coding sequences operatively associated with a regulatory element that directs the expression of the coding sequences in the host cell; and (d) genetically engineered host cells that express an endogenous NHP gene under the control of an exogenously introduced regulatory element (i.e., gene activation) or genetically engineered transcription factor. As used herein, regulatory elements include but are not limited to inducible and non-inducible promoters, enhancers, operators and other elements known to those skilled in the art that drive and regulate expression. Such regulatory elements include but are not limited to the cytomegalovirus hCMV immediate early gene, regulatable, viral (particularly retroviral LTR promoters) the early or late promoters of SV40 adenovirus, the lac system, the trp system, the TAC system, the TRC system, the major operator and promoter regions of phage lambda, the control regions of fd coat protein, the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), the promoters of acid phosphatase, and the promoters of the yeast α-mating factors.

[0028] The present invention also encompasses antibodies and anti-idiotypic antibodies (including Fab fragments), antagonists and agonists of a NHP, as well as compounds or nucleotide constructs that inhibit expression of a NHP gene (transcription factor inhibitors, antisense and ribozyme molecules, or gene or regulatory sequence replacement constructs), or promote the expression of a NHP (e.g., expression constructs in which NHP coding sequences are operatively associated with expression control elements such as promoters, promoter/enhancers, etc.).

[0029] The NHPs or NHP peptides, NHP fusion proteins, NHP nucleotide sequences, antibodies, antagonists and agonists can be useful for the detection of mutant NHPs or inappropriately expressed NHPs for the diagnosis of disease. The NHPs or NHP peptides, NHP fusion proteins, NHP nucleotide sequences, host cell expression systems, antibodies, antagonists, agonists and genetically engineered cells and animals can be used for screening for drugs (or high throughput screening of combinatorial libraries) effective in the treatment of the symptomatic or phenotypic manifestations of perturbing the normal function of NHP in the body. The use of engineered host cells and/or animals may offer an advantage in that such systems allow not only for the identification of compounds that bind to the endogenous receptor for a NHP, but can also identify compounds that trigger NHP-mediated activities or pathways.

[0030] Finally, the NHP products can be used as therapeutics. For example, soluble derivatives such as NHP peptides/domains corresponding to NHP, NHP fusion protein products (especially NHP-Ig fusion proteins, i.e., fusions of a NHP, or a domain of a NHP, to an IgFc), NHP antibodies and anti-idiotypic antibodies (including Fab fragments), antagonists or agonists (including compounds that modulate or act on downstream targets in a NHP-mediated pathway) can be used to directly treat diseases or disorders. For instance, the administration of an effective amount of soluble NHP, or a NHP-IgFc fusion protein or an anti-idiotypic antibody (or its Fab) that mimics a NHP could activate or effectively antagonize the endogenous NHP receptor. Nucleotide constructs encoding such NHP products can be used to genetically engineer host cells to express such products in vivo; these genetically engineered cells function as “bioreactors” in the body delivering a continuous supply of a NHP, a NHP peptide, or a NHP fusion protein to the body. Nucleotide constructs encoding functional NHP, mutant NHPs, as well as antisense and ribozyme molecules can also be used in “gene therapy” approaches for the modulation of NHP expression. Thus, the invention also encompasses pharmaceutical formulations and methods for treating biological disorders.

[0031] Various aspects of the invention are described in greater detail in the subsections below.

5.1 The NHP Sequences

[0032] The cDNA sequences and corresponding deduced amino acid sequences of the described NHPs are presented in the Sequence Listing. SEQ ID NO: 5 describes a NHP ORF as well as flanking regions. The NHP nucleotides were obtained from human cDNA libraries using probes and/or primers generated from human genomic sequence. Expression analysis has provided evidence that the described NHP can be expressed a variety of human cells.

5.2 NHPS and NHP Polypeptides

[0033] The NHPs, NHP polypeptides, NHP peptide fragments, mutated, truncated, or deleted forms of NHP, and/or NHP fusion proteins can be prepared for a variety of uses, including but not limited to the generation of antibodies, as reagents in diagnostic assays, the identification of other cellular gene products related to a NHP, as reagents in assays for screening for compounds that can be used as pharmaceutical reagents useful in the therapeutic treatment of mental, biological, or medical disorders and disease. The described NHPs share similarity with a variety of proteases, including proteases having thrombospondin repeats, disintegrins, aggrecanases, and metalloproteinases (especially zinc metalloproteases of the ADAMTS family).

[0034] The Sequence Listing discloses the amino acid sequences encoded by the described NHP polynucleotides. The NHPs display an initiator methionines in DNA sequence contexts consistent with a translation initiation site, and several of the ORFs display a signal-like sequence which can indicate that the described NHP ORFs are secreted proteins or can be membrane associated.

[0035] The NHP amino acid sequences of the invention include the amino acid sequences presented in the Sequence Listing as well as analogues and derivatives thereof. Further, corresponding NHP homologues from other species are encompassed by the invention. In fact, any NHPs encoded by a NHP nucleotide sequence described above are within the scope of the invention, as are any novel polynucleotide sequences encoding all or any novel portion of an amino acid sequence presented in the Sequence Listing. The degenerate nature of the genetic code is well known, and, accordingly, each amino acid presented in the Sequence Listing, is generically representative of the well known nucleic acid “triplet” codon, or in many cases codons, that can encode the amino acid. As such, as contemplated herein, the amino acid sequences presented in the Sequence Listing, when taken together with the genetic code (see, for example, Table 4-1 at page 109 of “Molecular Cell Biology”, 1986, J. Darnell et al. eds., Scientific American Books, New York, N.Y., herein incorporated by reference) are generically representative of all the various permutations and combinations of nucleic acid sequences that can encode such amino acid sequences.

[0036] The invention also encompasses proteins that are functionally equivalent to the NHPs encoded by the presently described nucleotide sequences as judged by any of a number of criteria, including, but not limited to, the ability to bind and cleave a substrate of a NHP, or the ability to effect an identical or complementary downstream pathway, or a change in cellular metabolism (e.g., proteolytic activity, ion flux, tyrosine phosphorylation, etc.). Such functionally equivalent NHP proteins include, but are not limited to, additions or substitutions of amino acid residues within the amino acid sequence encoded by the NHP nucleotide sequences described above, but which result in a silent change, thus producing a functionally equivalent gene product. Amino acid substitutions can be made on the basis of similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues involved. For example, nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and methionine; polar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, and glutamine; positively charged (basic) amino acids include arginine, lysine, and histidine; and negatively charged (acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid.

[0037] A variety of host-expression vector systems can be used to express the NHP nucleotide sequences of the invention. Where, as in the present instance, a NHP peptide or NHP polypeptide is thought to be a soluble or secreted molecule, the peptide or polypeptide can be recovered from the culture media. Such expression systems also encompass engineered host cells that express NHP, or functional equivalent, in situ. Purification or enrichment of a NHP from such expression systems can be accomplished using appropriate detergents and lipid micelles and methods well known to those skilled in the art. However, such engineered host cells themselves may be used in situations where it is important not only to retain the structural and functional characteristics of a NHP, but to assess biological activity, e.g., in drug screening assays.

[0038] The expression systems that may be used for purposes of the invention include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., E. coli, B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing NHP nucleotide sequences; yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces, Pichia) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing NHP encoding nucleotide sequences; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing NHP sequences; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g., Ti plasmid) containing NHP nucleotide sequences; or mammalian cell systems (e.g., COS, CHO, BHK, 293, 3T3) harboring recombinant expression constructs containing promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter).

[0039] In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors may be advantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the NHP product being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such a protein is to be produced for the generation of pharmaceutical compositions of and/or containing a NHP, or for raising antibodies to a NHP, vectors that direct the expression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readily purified may be desirable. Such vectors include, but are not limited, to the E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., 1983, EMBO J. 2:1791), in which a NHP coding sequence may be ligated individually into the vector in frame with the lacZ coding region so that a fusion protein is produced; pIN vectors (Inouye & Inouye, 1985, Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3101-3109; Van Heeke & Schuster, 1989, J. Biol. Chem. 264:5503-5509); and the like. PGEX vectors (Pharmacia or American Type Culture Collection) can also be used to express foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption to glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence of free glutathione. The PGEX vectors are designed to include thrombin or factor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned target gene product can be released from the GST moiety.

[0040] In an insect system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhidrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virus grows in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. A NHP gene coding sequence can be cloned individually into non-essential regions (for example the polyhedrin gene) of the virus and placed under control of an ACNPV promoter (for example the polyhedrin promoter). Successful insertion of NHP gene coding sequence will result in inactivation of the polyhedrin gene and production of non-occluded recombinant virus (i.e., virus lacking the proteinaceous coat coded for by the polyhedrin gene). These recombinant viruses are then used to infect Spodoptera frugiperda cells in which the inserted gene is expressed (e.g., see Smith et al., 1983, J. Virol. 46: 584; Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,051).

[0041] In mammalian host cells, a number of viral-based expression systems may be utilized. In cases where an adenovirus is used as an expression vector, the NHP nucleotide sequence of interest may be ligated to an adenovirus transcription/translation control complex, e.g., the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. This chimeric gene may then be inserted in the adenovirus genome by in vitro or in vivo recombination. Insertion in a non-essential region of the viral genome ( e.g., region E1 or E3) will result in a recombinant virus that is viable and capable of expressing a NHP product in infected hosts (e.g., See Logan & Shenk, 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3655-3659). Specific initiation signals may also be required for efficient translation of inserted NHP nucleotide sequences. These signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. In cases where an entire NHP gene or cDNA, including its own initiation codon and adjacent sequences, is inserted into the appropriate expression vector, no additional translational control signals may be needed. However, in cases where only a portion of a NHP coding sequence is inserted, exogenous translational control signals, including, perhaps, the ATG initiation codon, must be provided. Furthermore, the initiation codon must be in phase with the reading frame of the desired coding sequence to ensure translation of the entire insert. These exogenous translational control signals and initiation codons can be of a variety of origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression may be enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcription enhancer elements, transcription terminators, etc. (See Bitter et al., 1987, Methods in Enzymol. 153:516-544).

[0042] In addition, a host cell strain may be chosen that modulates the expression of the inserted sequences, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired. Such modifications (e.g., glycosylation) and processing (e.g., cleavage) of protein products may be important for the function of the protein. Different host cells have characteristic and specific mechanisms for the post-translational processing and modification of proteins and gene products. Appropriate cell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the foreign protein expressed. To this end, eukaryotic host cells which possess the cellular machinery for proper processing of the primary transcript, glycosylation, and phosphorylation of the gene product may be used. Such mammalian host cells include, but are not limited to, CHO, VERO, BHK, HeLa, COS, MDCK, 293, 3T3, WI38, and in particular, human cell lines.

[0043] For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins, stable expression is preferred. For example, cell lines which stably express the NHP sequences described above can be engineered. Rather than using expression vectors which contain viral origins of replication, host cells can be transformed with DNA controlled by appropriate expression control elements (e.g., promoter, enhancer sequences, transcription terminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a selectable marker. Following the introduction of the foreign DNA, engineered cells may be allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media, and then are switched to a selective media. The selectable marker in the recombinant plasmid confers resistance to the selection and allows cells to stably integrate the plasmid into their chromosomes and grow to form foci which in turn can be cloned and expanded into cell lines. This method may advantageously be used to engineer cell lines which express a NHP product. Such engineered cell lines may be particularly useful in screening and evaluation of compounds that affect the endogenous activity of a NHP product.

[0044] A number of selection systems may be used, including but not limited to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler, et al., 1977, Cell 11:223), hypoxanthine-quanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Szybalska & Szybalski, 1962, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 48:2026), and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy, et al., 1980, Cell 22:817) genes can be employed in tk⁻, hgprt⁻ or aprt⁻ cells, respectively. Also, antimetabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for the following genes: dhfr, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigler, et al., 1980, Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:3567; O'Hare, et al., 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:1527); gpt, which confers resistance to mycophenolic acid (Mulligan & Berg, 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2072); neo, which confers resistance to the aminoglycoside G-418 (Colberre-Garapin, et al., 1981, J. Mol. Biol. 150:1); and hygro, which confers resistance to hygromycin (Santerre, et al., 1984, Gene 30:147).

[0045] Alternatively, any fusion protein can be readily purified by utilizing an antibody specific for the fusion protein being expressed. For example, a system described by Janknecht et al. allows for the ready purification of non-denatured fusion proteins expressed in human cell blines (Janknecht, et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8972-8976). In this system, the gene of interest is subcloned into a vaccinia recombination plasmid such that the gene's open reading frame is translationally fused to an amino-terminal tag consisting of six histidine residues. Extracts from cells infected with recombinant vaccinia virus are loaded onto Ni²⁺. nitriloacetic acid-agarose columns and histidine-tagged proteins are selectively eluted with imidazole-containing buffers.

5.3 Antibodies to NHP Products

[0046] Antibodies that specifically recognize one or more epitopes of a NHP, or epitopes of conserved variants of a NHP, or peptide fragments of a NHP are also encompassed by the invention. Such antibodies include but are not limited to polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′)2 fragments, fragments produced by a Fab expression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies, and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above.

[0047] The antibodies of the invention may be used, for example, in the detection of a NHP in a biological sample and may, therefore, be utilized as part of a diagnostic or prognostic technique whereby patients may be tested for abnormal amounts of NHP. Such antibodies may also be utilized in conjunction with, for example, compound screening schemes for the evaluation of the effect of test compounds on expression and/or activity of a NHP gene product. Additionally, such antibodies can be used in conjunction gene therapy to, for example, evaluate the normal and/or engineered NHP-expressing cells prior to their introduction into the patient. Such antibodies may additionally be used as a method for the inhibition of abnormal NHP activity. Thus, such antibodies may, therefore, be utilized as part of treatment methods.

[0048] For the production of antibodies, various host animals may be immunized by injection with a NHP, an NHP peptide (e.g., one corresponding to a functional domain of a NHP), truncated NHP polypeptides (NHP in which one or more domains have been deleted), functional equivalents of a NHP or mutated variants of a NHP. Such host animals may include but are not limited to pigs, rabbits, mice, goats, and rats, to name but a few. Various adjuvants may be used to increase the immunological response, depending on the host species, including but not limited to Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful human adjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and Corynebacterium parvum. Polyclonal antibodies are heterogeneous populations of antibody molecules derived from the sera of the immunized animals.

[0049] Monoclonal antibodies, which are homogeneous populations of antibodies to a particular antigen, can be obtained by any technique which provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous cell lines in culture. These include, but are not limited to, the hybridoma technique of Kohler and Milstein, (1975, Nature 256:495-497; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110), the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kosbor et al., 1983, Immunology Today 4:72; Cole et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:2026-2030), and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al., 1985, Monoclonal Antibodies And Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77-96). Such antibodies may be of any immunoglobulin class including IgG, IgM, IgE, IgA, IgD and any subclass thereof. The hybridoma producing the mAb of this invention may be cultivated in vitro or in vivo. Production of high titers of mAbs in vivo makes this the presently preferred method of production.

[0050] In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies” (Morrison et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 81:6851-6855; Neuberger et al., 1984, Nature, 312:604-608; Takeda et al., 1985-, Nature, 314:452-454) by splicing the genes from a mouse antibody molecule of appropriate antigen specificity together with genes from a human antibody molecule of appropriate biological activity can be used. A chimeric antibody is a molecule in which different portions are derived from different animal species, such as those having a variable region derived from a murine mAb and a human immunoglobulin constant region.

[0051] Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. 4,946,778; Bird, 1988, Science 242:423-426; Huston et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883; and Ward et al., 1989, Nature 341:544-546) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies against NHP gene products. Single chain antibodies are formed by linking the heavy and light chain fragments of the Fv region via an amino acid bridge, resulting in a single chain polypeptide.

[0052] Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes may be generated by known techniques. For example, such fragments include, but are not limited to: the F(ab′)₂ fragments which can be produced by pepsin digestion of the antibody molecule and the Fab fragments which can be generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of the F(ab′)₂ fragments. Alternatively, Fab expression libraries may be constructed (Huse et al., 1989, Science, 246:1275-1281) to allow rapid and easy identification of monoclonal Fab fragments with the desired specificity.

[0053] Antibodies to a NHP can, in turn, be utilized to generate anti-idiotype antibodies that “mimic” a given NHP, using techniques well known to those skilled in the art. (See, e.g., Greenspan & Bona, 1993, FASEB J 7(5):437-444; and Nissinoff, 1991, J. Immunol. 147(8):2429-2438). For example antibodies which bind to a NHP domain and competitively inhibit the binding of NHP to its cognate receptor can be used to generate anti-idiotypes that “mimic” a NHP and, therefore, bind and activate or neutralize a receptor. Such anti-idiotypic antibodies or Fab fragments of such anti-idiotypes can be used in therapeutic regimens involving a NHP signaling pathway.

[0054] The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein, which are intended as single illustrations of individual aspects of the invention, and functionally equivalent methods and components are within the scope of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention, in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. All cited publications, patents, and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

1 5 1 1476 DNA homo sapiens 1 atgaagcccc gcgcgcgcgg atggcggggc ttggcggcgc tgtggatgct gttggcgcag 60 gtggccgagc aggcacctgc gtgcgccatg ggacccgcag cggcagcgcc tgggagcccg 120 agcgtcccgc gtcctcctcc acccgcggag cggccgggct ggatggaaaa gggcgaatat 180 gacctggtct ctgcctacga ggttgaccac aggggcgatt acgtgtccca tgaaatcatg 240 caccatcagc ggcggagaag agcagtggcc gtgtccgagg ttgagtctct tcaccttcgg 300 ctgaaaggct ccaggcacga cttccacgtg gatctgagga cttccagcag cctagtggct 360 cctggcttta ttgtgcagac gttgggaaag acaggcacta agtctgtgca gactttaccg 420 ccagaggact tctgtttcta tcaaggctct ttgcgatcac acagaaactc ctcagtggcc 480 ctttcaacct gccaaggctt gtcaggcatg atacgaacag aagaggcaga ttacttccta 540 aggccacttc cttcacacct ctcatggaaa ctcggcagag ctgcccaagg cagctcgcca 600 tcccacgtac tgtacaagag atccacagag ccccatgctc ctggggccag tgaggtcctg 660 gtgacctcaa ggacatggga gctggcacat caacccctgc acagcagcga ccttcgcctg 720 ggactgccac aaaagcagca tttctgtgga agacgcaaga aatacatgcc ccagcctccc 780 aaggaagacc tcttcatctt gccagatgag tataagtctt gcttacggca taagcgctct 840 cttctgaggt cccatagaaa tgaagaactg aacgtggaga ccttggtggt ggtcgacaaa 900 aagatgatgc aaaaccatgg ccatgaaaat atcaccacct acgtgctcac gatactcaac 960 atggtatctg ctttattcaa agatggaaca ataggaggaa acatcaacat tgcaattgta 1020 ggtctgattc ttctagaaga tgaacagcca ggactggtga taagtcacca cgcagaccac 1080 accttaagta gcttctgcca gtggcagtct ggattgatgg ggaaagatgg gactcgtcat 1140 gaccacgcca tcttactgac tggtctggat atatgttcct ggaagaatga gccctgtgac 1200 actttgggat ttgcacccat aagtggaatg tgtagtaaat atcgcagctg cacgattaat 1260 gaagatacag gtcttggact ggccttcacc attgcccatg agtctggaca caactttggc 1320 atgattcatg atggagaagg gaacatgtgt aaaaagtccg agggcaacat catgtcccct 1380 acattggcag gacgcaatgg agtcttctcc tggtcaccct gcagccgcca gtatctacac 1440 aaatttctaa gatcagtgaa aatgccagct ctctga 1476 2 491 PRT homo sapiens 2 Met Lys Pro Arg Ala Arg Gly Trp Arg Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Trp Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Ala Gln Val Ala Glu Gln Ala Pro Ala Cys Ala Met Gly Pro 20 25 30 Ala Ala Ala Ala Pro Gly Ser Pro Ser Val Pro Arg Pro Pro Pro Pro 35 40 45 Ala Glu Arg Pro Gly Trp Met Glu Lys Gly Glu Tyr Asp Leu Val Ser 50 55 60 Ala Tyr Glu Val Asp His Arg Gly Asp Tyr Val Ser His Glu Ile Met 65 70 75 80 His His Gln Arg Arg Arg Arg Ala Val Ala Val Ser Glu Val Glu Ser 85 90 95 Leu His Leu Arg Leu Lys Gly Ser Arg His Asp Phe His Val Asp Leu 100 105 110 Arg Thr Ser Ser Ser Leu Val Ala Pro Gly Phe Ile Val Gln Thr Leu 115 120 125 Gly Lys Thr Gly Thr Lys Ser Val Gln Thr Leu Pro Pro Glu Asp Phe 130 135 140 Cys Phe Tyr Gln Gly Ser Leu Arg Ser His Arg Asn Ser Ser Val Ala 145 150 155 160 Leu Ser Thr Cys Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Met Ile Arg Thr Glu Glu Ala 165 170 175 Asp Tyr Phe Leu Arg Pro Leu Pro Ser His Leu Ser Trp Lys Leu Gly 180 185 190 Arg Ala Ala Gln Gly Ser Ser Pro Ser His Val Leu Tyr Lys Arg Ser 195 200 205 Thr Glu Pro His Ala Pro Gly Ala Ser Glu Val Leu Val Thr Ser Arg 210 215 220 Thr Trp Glu Leu Ala His Gln Pro Leu His Ser Ser Asp Leu Arg Leu 225 230 235 240 Gly Leu Pro Gln Lys Gln His Phe Cys Gly Arg Arg Lys Lys Tyr Met 245 250 255 Pro Gln Pro Pro Lys Glu Asp Leu Phe Ile Leu Pro Asp Glu Tyr Lys 260 265 270 Ser Cys Leu Arg His Lys Arg Ser Leu Leu Arg Ser His Arg Asn Glu 275 280 285 Glu Leu Asn Val Glu Thr Leu Val Val Val Asp Lys Lys Met Met Gln 290 295 300 Asn His Gly His Glu Asn Ile Thr Thr Tyr Val Leu Thr Ile Leu Asn 305 310 315 320 Met Val Ser Ala Leu Phe Lys Asp Gly Thr Ile Gly Gly Asn Ile Asn 325 330 335 Ile Ala Ile Val Gly Leu Ile Leu Leu Glu Asp Glu Gln Pro Gly Leu 340 345 350 Val Ile Ser His His Ala Asp His Thr Leu Ser Ser Phe Cys Gln Trp 355 360 365 Gln Ser Gly Leu Met Gly Lys Asp Gly Thr Arg His Asp His Ala Ile 370 375 380 Leu Leu Thr Gly Leu Asp Ile Cys Ser Trp Lys Asn Glu Pro Cys Asp 385 390 395 400 Thr Leu Gly Phe Ala Pro Ile Ser Gly Met Cys Ser Lys Tyr Arg Ser 405 410 415 Cys Thr Ile Asn Glu Asp Thr Gly Leu Gly Leu Ala Phe Thr Ile Ala 420 425 430 His Glu Ser Gly His Asn Phe Gly Met Ile His Asp Gly Glu Gly Asn 435 440 445 Met Cys Lys Lys Ser Glu Gly Asn Ile Met Ser Pro Thr Leu Ala Gly 450 455 460 Arg Asn Gly Val Phe Ser Trp Ser Pro Cys Ser Arg Gln Tyr Leu His 465 470 475 480 Lys Phe Leu Arg Ser Val Lys Met Pro Ala Leu 485 490 3 3675 DNA homo sapiens 3 atgaagcccc gcgcgcgcgg atggcggggc ttggcggcgc tgtggatgct gctggcgcag 60 gtggccgagc aggcacctgc gtgcgccatg ggacccgcag cggcagcgcc tgggagcccg 120 agcgtcccgc gtcctcctcc acccgcggag cggccgggct ggatggaaaa gggcgaatat 180 gacctggtct ctgcctacga ggttgaccac aggggcgatt acgtgtccca tgaaatcatg 240 caccatcagc ggcggagaag agcagtggcc gtgtccgagg ttgagtctct tcaccttcgg 300 ctgaaaggct ccaggcacga cttccacgtg gatctgagga cttccagcag cctagtggct 360 cctggcttta ttgtgcagac gttgggaaag acaggcacta agtctgtgca gactttaccg 420 ccagaggact tctgtttcta tcaaggctct ttgcgatcac acagaaactc ctcagtggcc 480 ctttcaacct gccaaggctt gtcaggcatg atacgaacag aagaggcaga ttacttccta 540 aggccacttc cttcacacct ctcatggaaa ctcggcagag ctgcccaagg cagctcgcca 600 tcccacgtac tgtacaagag atccacagag ccccatgctc ctggggccag tgaggtcctg 660 gtgacctcaa ggacatggga gctggcacat caacccctgc acagcagcga ccttcgcctg 720 ggactgccac aaaagcagca tttctgtgga agacgcaaga aatacatgcc ccagcctccc 780 aaggaagacc tcttcatctt gccagatgag tataagtctt gcttacggca taagcgctct 840 cttctgaggt cccatagaaa tgaagaactg aacgtggaga ccttggtggt ggtcgacaaa 900 aagatgatgc aaaaccatgg ccatgaaaat atcaccacct acgtgctcac gatactcaac 960 atggtatctg ctttattcaa agatggaaca ataggaggaa acatcaacat tgcaattgta 1020 ggtctgattc ttctagaaga tgaacagcca ggactggtga taagtcacca cgcagaccac 1080 accttaagta gcttctgcca gtggcagtct ggattgatgg ggaaagatgg gactcgtcat 1140 gaccacgcca tcttactgac tggtctggat atatgttcct ggaagaatga gccctgtgac 1200 actttgggat ttgcacccat aagtggaatg tgtagtaaat atcgcagctg cacgattaat 1260 gaagatacag gtcttggact ggccttcacc attgcccatg agtctggaca caactttggc 1320 atgattcatg atggagaagg gaacatgtgt aaaaagtccg agggcaacat catgtcccct 1380 acattggcag gacgcaatgg agtcttctcc tggtcaccct gcagccgcca gtatctacac 1440 aaatttctaa gcaccgctca agctatctgc cttgctgatc agccaaagcc tgtgaaggaa 1500 tacaagtatc ctgagaaatt gccaggagaa ttatatgatg caaacacaca gtgcaagtgg 1560 cagttcggag agaaagccaa gctctgcatg ctggacttta aaaaggacat ctgtaaagcc 1620 ctgtggtgcc atcgtattgg aaggaaatgt gagactaaat ttatgccagc agcagaaggc 1680 acaatttgtg ggcatgacat gtggtgccgg ggaggacagt gtgtgaaata tggtgatgaa 1740 ggccccaagc ccacccatgg ccactggtcg gactggtctt cttggtcccc atgctccagg 1800 acctgcggag ggggagtatc tcataggagt cgcctctgca ccaaccccaa gccatcgcat 1860 ggagggaagt tctgtgaggg ctccactcgc actctgaagc tctgcaacag tcagaaatgt 1920 ccccgggaca gtgttgactt ccgtgctgct cagtgtgccg agcacaacag cagacgattc 1980 agagggcggc actacaagtg gaagccttac actcaagtag aagatcagga cttatgcaaa 2040 ctctactgta tcgcagaagg atttgatttc ttcttttctt tgtcaaataa agtcaaagat 2100 gggactccat gctcggagga tagccgtaat gtttgtatag atgggatatg tgagagagtt 2160 ggatgtgaca atgtccttgg atctgatgct gttgaagacg tctgtggggt gtgtaacggg 2220 aataactcag cctgcacgat tcacaggggt ctctacacca agcaccacca caccaaccag 2280 tattatcaca tggtcaccat tccttctgga gcccggagta tccgcatcta tgaaatgaac 2340 gtctctacct cctacatttc tgtgcgcaat gccctcagaa ggtactacct gaatgggcac 2400 tggaccgtgg actggcccgg ccggtacaaa ttttcgggca ctactttcga ctacagacgg 2460 tcctataatg agcccgagaa cttaatcgct actggaccaa ccaacgagac actgattgtg 2520 gagctgctgt ttcagggaag gaacccgggt gttgcctggg aatactccat gcctcgcttg 2580 gggaccgaga agcagccccc tgcccagccc agctacactt gggccatcgt gcgctctgag 2640 tgctccgtgt cctgcggagg gggacagatg accgtgagag agggctgcta cagagacctg 2700 aagtttcaag taaatatgtc cttctgcaat cccaagacac gacctgtcac ggggctggtg 2760 ccttgcaaag tatctgcctg tcctcccagc tggtccgtgg ggaactggag tgcctgcagt 2820 cggacgtgtg gcgggggtgc ccagagccgc cccgtgcagt gcacacggcg ggtgcactat 2880 gactcggagc cagtcccggc cagcctgtgc cctcagcctg ctccctccag caggcaggcc 2940 tgcaactctc agagctgccc acctgcatgg agcgccgggc cctgggcaga gtgctcacac 3000 acctgtggga aggggtggag gaagcgggca gtggcctgta agagcaccaa cccctcggcc 3060 agagcgcagc tgctgcccga cgctgtctgc acctccgagc ccaagcccag gatgcatgaa 3120 gcctgtctgc ttcagcgctg ccacaagccc aagaagctgc agtggctggt gtccgcctgg 3180 tcccagtgct ctgtgacatg tgaaagagga acacagaaaa gattcttaaa atgtgctgaa 3240 aagtatgttt ctggaaagta tcgagagctg gcctcaaaga agtgctcaca tttgccgaag 3300 cccagcctgg agctggaacg tgcctgcgcc ccgcttccat gccccaggca ccccccattt 3360 gctgctgcgg gaccctcgag gggcagctgg tttgcctcac cctggtctca gtgcacggcc 3420 agctgtgggg gaggcgttca gacgaggtcc gtgcagtgcc tggctggggg ccggccggcc 3480 tcaggctgcc tcctgcacca gaagccttcg gcctccctgg cctgcaacac tcacttctgc 3540 cccattgcag agaagaaaga tgccttctgc aaagactact tccactggtg ctacctggta 3600 ccccagcacg ggatgtgcag ccacaagttc tacggcaagc agtgctgcaa gacttgctct 3660 aagtccaact tgtga 3675 4 1224 PRT homo sapiens 4 Met Lys Pro Arg Ala Arg Gly Trp Arg Gly Leu Ala Ala Leu Trp Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Ala Gln Val Ala Glu Gln Ala Pro Ala Cys Ala Met Gly Pro 20 25 30 Ala Ala Ala Ala Pro Gly Ser Pro Ser Val Pro Arg Pro Pro Pro Pro 35 40 45 Ala Glu Arg Pro Gly Trp Met Glu Lys Gly Glu Tyr Asp Leu Val Ser 50 55 60 Ala Tyr Glu Val Asp His Arg Gly Asp Tyr Val Ser His Glu Ile Met 65 70 75 80 His His Gln Arg Arg Arg Arg Ala Val Ala Val Ser Glu Val Glu Ser 85 90 95 Leu His Leu Arg Leu Lys Gly Ser Arg His Asp Phe His Val Asp Leu 100 105 110 Arg Thr Ser Ser Ser Leu Val Ala Pro Gly Phe Ile Val Gln Thr Leu 115 120 125 Gly Lys Thr Gly Thr Lys Ser Val Gln Thr Leu Pro Pro Glu Asp Phe 130 135 140 Cys Phe Tyr Gln Gly Ser Leu Arg Ser His Arg Asn Ser Ser Val Ala 145 150 155 160 Leu Ser Thr Cys Gln Gly Leu Ser Gly Met Ile Arg Thr Glu Glu Ala 165 170 175 Asp Tyr Phe Leu Arg Pro Leu Pro Ser His Leu Ser Trp Lys Leu Gly 180 185 190 Arg Ala Ala Gln Gly Ser Ser Pro Ser His Val Leu Tyr Lys Arg Ser 195 200 205 Thr Glu Pro His Ala Pro Gly Ala Ser Glu Val Leu Val Thr Ser Arg 210 215 220 Thr Trp Glu Leu Ala His Gln Pro Leu His Ser Ser Asp Leu Arg Leu 225 230 235 240 Gly Leu Pro Gln Lys Gln His Phe Cys Gly Arg Arg Lys Lys Tyr Met 245 250 255 Pro Gln Pro Pro Lys Glu Asp Leu Phe Ile Leu Pro Asp Glu Tyr Lys 260 265 270 Ser Cys Leu Arg His Lys Arg Ser Leu Leu Arg Ser His Arg Asn Glu 275 280 285 Glu Leu Asn Val Glu Thr Leu Val Val Val Asp Lys Lys Met Met Gln 290 295 300 Asn His Gly His Glu Asn Ile Thr Thr Tyr Val Leu Thr Ile Leu Asn 305 310 315 320 Met Val Ser Ala Leu Phe Lys Asp Gly Thr Ile Gly Gly Asn Ile Asn 325 330 335 Ile Ala Ile Val Gly Leu Ile Leu Leu Glu Asp Glu Gln Pro Gly Leu 340 345 350 Val Ile Ser His His Ala Asp His Thr Leu Ser Ser Phe Cys Gln Trp 355 360 365 Gln Ser Gly Leu Met Gly Lys Asp Gly Thr Arg His Asp His Ala Ile 370 375 380 Leu Leu Thr Gly Leu Asp Ile Cys Ser Trp Lys Asn Glu Pro Cys Asp 385 390 395 400 Thr Leu Gly Phe Ala Pro Ile Ser Gly Met Cys Ser Lys Tyr Arg Ser 405 410 415 Cys Thr Ile Asn Glu Asp Thr Gly Leu Gly Leu Ala Phe Thr Ile Ala 420 425 430 His Glu Ser Gly His Asn Phe Gly Met Ile His Asp Gly Glu Gly Asn 435 440 445 Met Cys Lys Lys Ser Glu Gly Asn Ile Met Ser Pro Thr Leu Ala Gly 450 455 460 Arg Asn Gly Val Phe Ser Trp Ser Pro Cys Ser Arg Gln Tyr Leu His 465 470 475 480 Lys Phe Leu Ser Thr Ala Gln Ala Ile Cys Leu Ala Asp Gln Pro Lys 485 490 495 Pro Val Lys Glu Tyr Lys Tyr Pro Glu Lys Leu Pro Gly Glu Leu Tyr 500 505 510 Asp Ala Asn Thr Gln Cys Lys Trp Gln Phe Gly Glu Lys Ala Lys Leu 515 520 525 Cys Met Leu Asp Phe Lys Lys Asp Ile Cys Lys Ala Leu Trp Cys His 530 535 540 Arg Ile Gly Arg Lys Cys Glu Thr Lys Phe Met Pro Ala Ala Glu Gly 545 550 555 560 Thr Ile Cys Gly His Asp Met Trp Cys Arg Gly Gly Gln Cys Val Lys 565 570 575 Tyr Gly Asp Glu Gly Pro Lys Pro Thr His Gly His Trp Ser Asp Trp 580 585 590 Ser Ser Trp Ser Pro Cys Ser Arg Thr Cys Gly Gly Gly Val Ser His 595 600 605 Arg Ser Arg Leu Cys Thr Asn Pro Lys Pro Ser His Gly Gly Lys Phe 610 615 620 Cys Glu Gly Ser Thr Arg Thr Leu Lys Leu Cys Asn Ser Gln Lys Cys 625 630 635 640 Pro Arg Asp Ser Val Asp Phe Arg Ala Ala Gln Cys Ala Glu His Asn 645 650 655 Ser Arg Arg Phe Arg Gly Arg His Tyr Lys Trp Lys Pro Tyr Thr Gln 660 665 670 Val Glu Asp Gln Asp Leu Cys Lys Leu Tyr Cys Ile Ala Glu Gly Phe 675 680 685 Asp Phe Phe Phe Ser Leu Ser Asn Lys Val Lys Asp Gly Thr Pro Cys 690 695 700 Ser Glu Asp Ser Arg Asn Val Cys Ile Asp Gly Ile Cys Glu Arg Val 705 710 715 720 Gly Cys Asp Asn Val Leu Gly Ser Asp Ala Val Glu Asp Val Cys Gly 725 730 735 Val Cys Asn Gly Asn Asn Ser Ala Cys Thr Ile His Arg Gly Leu Tyr 740 745 750 Thr Lys His His His Thr Asn Gln Tyr Tyr His Met Val Thr Ile Pro 755 760 765 Ser Gly Ala Arg Ser Ile Arg Ile Tyr Glu Met Asn Val Ser Thr Ser 770 775 780 Tyr Ile Ser Val Arg Asn Ala Leu Arg Arg Tyr Tyr Leu Asn Gly His 785 790 795 800 Trp Thr Val Asp Trp Pro Gly Arg Tyr Lys Phe Ser Gly Thr Thr Phe 805 810 815 Asp Tyr Arg Arg Ser Tyr Asn Glu Pro Glu Asn Leu Ile Ala Thr Gly 820 825 830 Pro Thr Asn Glu Thr Leu Ile Val Glu Leu Leu Phe Gln Gly Arg Asn 835 840 845 Pro Gly Val Ala Trp Glu Tyr Ser Met Pro Arg Leu Gly Thr Glu Lys 850 855 860 Gln Pro Pro Ala Gln Pro Ser Tyr Thr Trp Ala Ile Val Arg Ser Glu 865 870 875 880 Cys Ser Val Ser Cys Gly Gly Gly Gln Met Thr Val Arg Glu Gly Cys 885 890 895 Tyr Arg Asp Leu Lys Phe Gln Val Asn Met Ser Phe Cys Asn Pro Lys 900 905 910 Thr Arg Pro Val Thr Gly Leu Val Pro Cys Lys Val Ser Ala Cys Pro 915 920 925 Pro Ser Trp Ser Val Gly Asn Trp Ser Ala Cys Ser Arg Thr Cys Gly 930 935 940 Gly Gly Ala Gln Ser Arg Pro Val Gln Cys Thr Arg Arg Val His Tyr 945 950 955 960 Asp Ser Glu Pro Val Pro Ala Ser Leu Cys Pro Gln Pro Ala Pro Ser 965 970 975 Ser Arg Gln Ala Cys Asn Ser Gln Ser Cys Pro Pro Ala Trp Ser Ala 980 985 990 Gly Pro Trp Ala Glu Cys Ser His Thr Cys Gly Lys Gly Trp Arg Lys 995 1000 1005 Arg Ala Val Ala Cys Lys Ser Thr Asn Pro Ser Ala Arg Ala Gln Leu 1010 1015 1020 Leu Pro Asp Ala Val Cys Thr Ser Glu Pro Lys Pro Arg Met His Glu 1025 1030 1035 1040 Ala Cys Leu Leu Gln Arg Cys His Lys Pro Lys Lys Leu Gln Trp Leu 1045 1050 1055 Val Ser Ala Trp Ser Gln Cys Ser Val Thr Cys Glu Arg Gly Thr Gln 1060 1065 1070 Lys Arg Phe Leu Lys Cys Ala Glu Lys Tyr Val Ser Gly Lys Tyr Arg 1075 1080 1085 Glu Leu Ala Ser Lys Lys Cys Ser His Leu Pro Lys Pro Ser Leu Glu 1090 1095 1100 Leu Glu Arg Ala Cys Ala Pro Leu Pro Cys Pro Arg His Pro Pro Phe 1105 1110 1115 1120 Ala Ala Ala Gly Pro Ser Arg Gly Ser Trp Phe Ala Ser Pro Trp Ser 1125 1130 1135 Gln Cys Thr Ala Ser Cys Gly Gly Gly Val Gln Thr Arg Ser Val Gln 1140 1145 1150 Cys Leu Ala Gly Gly Arg Pro Ala Ser Gly Cys Leu Leu His Gln Lys 1155 1160 1165 Pro Ser Ala Ser Leu Ala Cys Asn Thr His Phe Cys Pro Ile Ala Glu 1170 1175 1180 Lys Lys Asp Ala Phe Cys Lys Asp Tyr Phe His Trp Cys Tyr Leu Val 1185 1190 1195 1200 Pro Gln His Gly Met Cys Ser His Lys Phe Tyr Gly Lys Gln Cys Cys 1205 1210 1215 Lys Thr Cys Ser Lys Ser Asn Leu 1220 5 4042 DNA homo sapiens 5 ccttcccgcg ctctgcttgg gtcgggtcct ccctgcccgc tcgcacgctg ccggccgggg 60 accctccggt ggcccctagc ccctcggagc gctcctggat gaagccccgc gcgcgcggat 120 ggcggggctt ggcggcgctg tggatgctgc tggcgcaggt ggccgagcag gcacctgcgt 180 gcgccatggg acccgcagcg gcagcgcctg ggagcccgag cgtcccgcgt cctcctccac 240 ccgcggagcg gccgggctgg atggaaaagg gcgaatatga cctggtctct gcctacgagg 300 ttgaccacag gggcgattac gtgtcccatg aaatcatgca ccatcagcgg cggagaagag 360 cagtggccgt gtccgaggtt gagtctcttc accttcggct gaaaggctcc aggcacgact 420 tccacgtgga tctgaggact tccagcagcc tagtggctcc tggctttatt gtgcagacgt 480 tgggaaagac aggcactaag tctgtgcaga ctttaccgcc agaggacttc tgtttctatc 540 aaggctcttt gcgatcacac agaaactcct cagtggccct ttcaacctgc caaggcttgt 600 caggcatgat acgaacagaa gaggcagatt acttcctaag gccacttcct tcacacctct 660 catggaaact cggcagagct gcccaaggca gctcgccatc ccacgtactg tacaagagat 720 ccacagagcc ccatgctcct ggggccagtg aggtcctggt gacctcaagg acatgggagc 780 tggcacatca acccctgcac agcagcgacc ttcgcctggg actgccacaa aagcagcatt 840 tctgtggaag acgcaagaaa tacatgcccc agcctcccaa ggaagacctc ttcatcttgc 900 cagatgagta taagtcttgc ttacggcata agcgctctct tctgaggtcc catagaaatg 960 aagaactgaa cgtggagacc ttggtggtgg tcgacaaaaa gatgatgcaa aaccatggcc 1020 atgaaaatat caccacctac gtgctcacga tactcaacat ggtatctgct ttattcaaag 1080 atggaacaat aggaggaaac atcaacattg caattgtagg tctgattctt ctagaagatg 1140 aacagccagg actggtgata agtcaccacg cagaccacac cttaagtagc ttctgccagt 1200 ggcagtctgg attgatgggg aaagatggga ctcgtcatga ccacgccatc ttactgactg 1260 gtctggatat atgttcctgg aagaatgagc cctgtgacac tttgggattt gcacccataa 1320 gtggaatgtg tagtaaatat cgcagctgca cgattaatga agatacaggt cttggactgg 1380 ccttcaccat tgcccatgag tctggacaca actttggcat gattcatgat ggagaaggga 1440 acatgtgtaa aaagtccgag ggcaacatca tgtcccctac attggcagga cgcaatggag 1500 tcttctcctg gtcaccctgc agccgccagt atctacacaa atttctaagc accgctcaag 1560 ctatctgcct tgctgatcag ccaaagcctg tgaaggaata caagtatcct gagaaattgc 1620 caggagaatt atatgatgca aacacacagt gcaagtggca gttcggagag aaagccaagc 1680 tctgcatgct ggactttaaa aaggacatct gtaaagccct gtggtgccat cgtattggaa 1740 ggaaatgtga gactaaattt atgccagcag cagaaggcac aatttgtggg catgacatgt 1800 ggtgccgggg aggacagtgt gtgaaatatg gtgatgaagg ccccaagccc acccatggcc 1860 actggtcgga ctggtcttct tggtccccat gctccaggac ctgcggaggg ggagtatctc 1920 ataggagtcg cctctgcacc aaccccaagc catcgcatgg agggaagttc tgtgagggct 1980 ccactcgcac tctgaagctc tgcaacagtc agaaatgtcc ccgggacagt gttgacttcc 2040 gtgctgctca gtgtgccgag cacaacagca gacgattcag agggcggcac tacaagtgga 2100 agccttacac tcaagtagaa gatcaggact tatgcaaact ctactgtatc gcagaaggat 2160 ttgatttctt cttttctttg tcaaataaag tcaaagatgg gactccatgc tcggaggata 2220 gccgtaatgt ttgtatagat gggatatgtg agagagttgg atgtgacaat gtccttggat 2280 ctgatgctgt tgaagacgtc tgtggggtgt gtaacgggaa taactcagcc tgcacgattc 2340 acaggggtct ctacaccaag caccaccaca ccaaccagta ttatcacatg gtcaccattc 2400 cttctggagc ccggagtatc cgcatctatg aaatgaacgt ctctacctcc tacatttctg 2460 tgcgcaatgc cctcagaagg tactacctga atgggcactg gaccgtggac tggcccggcc 2520 ggtacaaatt ttcgggcact actttcgact acagacggtc ctataatgag cccgagaact 2580 taatcgctac tggaccaacc aacgagacac tgattgtgga gctgctgttt cagggaagga 2640 acccgggtgt tgcctgggaa tactccatgc ctcgcttggg gaccgagaag cagccccctg 2700 cccagcccag ctacacttgg gccatcgtgc gctctgagtg ctccgtgtcc tgcggagggg 2760 gacagatgac cgtgagagag ggctgctaca gagacctgaa gtttcaagta aatatgtcct 2820 tctgcaatcc caagacacga cctgtcacgg ggctggtgcc ttgcaaagta tctgcctgtc 2880 ctcccagctg gtccgtgggg aactggagtg cctgcagtcg gacgtgtggc gggggtgccc 2940 agagccgccc cgtgcagtgc acacggcggg tgcactatga ctcggagcca gtcccggcca 3000 gcctgtgccc tcagcctgct ccctccagca ggcaggcctg caactctcag agctgcccac 3060 ctgcatggag cgccgggccc tgggcagagt gctcacacac ctgtgggaag gggtggagga 3120 agcgggcagt ggcctgtaag agcaccaacc cctcggccag agcgcagctg ctgcccgacg 3180 ctgtctgcac ctccgagccc aagcccagga tgcatgaagc ctgtctgctt cagcgctgcc 3240 acaagcccaa gaagctgcag tggctggtgt ccgcctggtc ccagtgctct gtgacatgtg 3300 aaagaggaac acagaaaaga ttcttaaaat gtgctgaaaa gtatgtttct ggaaagtatc 3360 gagagctggc ctcaaagaag tgctcacatt tgccgaagcc cagcctggag ctggaacgtg 3420 cctgcgcccc gcttccatgc cccaggcacc ccccatttgc tgctgcggga ccctcgaggg 3480 gcagctggtt tgcctcaccc tggtctcagt gcacggccag ctgtggggga ggcgttcaga 3540 cgaggtccgt gcagtgcctg gctgggggcc ggccggcctc aggctgcctc ctgcaccaga 3600 agccttcggc ctccctggcc tgcaacactc acttctgccc cattgcagag aagaaagatg 3660 ccttctgcaa agactacttc cactggtgct acctggtacc ccagcacggg atgtgcagcc 3720 acaagttcta cggcaagcag tgctgcaaga cttgctctaa gtccaacttg tgagttggga 3780 ccgctctccg tagcagagaa agtgcctgcg tggcacagaa atttcccaca aatgagctgt 3840 gcaatctacg tcggaataca tccaaggaag agcaaagcca aaagaagaaa accgtgttag 3900 gctctttgac caggagtgta tgtatgtgtt tcactgtgag cctgggtgca gacctgtgtc 3960 cccatgcaca cagtgtctcc tgtcaggctg aaatgtggca ccctggcaga cagagctgtg 4020 gctcgtgagg cagaaggcag gc 4042 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence drawn from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2 and
 4. 2. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that: (a) encodes the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4; and (b) hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or the complement thereof.
 3. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1 wherein said nucleotide sequence is present in cDNA.
 4. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence presented in SEQ ID NO:
 4. 5. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence presented in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 